Skywalker Upgrades ‘Green’ Adventure Park Technology

Improved anchor system meets with approval of experts, industry and business clients.

At Skywalker Adventure Builders, the Dutch ropes course constructor and manufacturer of outdoor climbing parks and adventure playgrounds, maximum eco-friendliness and full compatibility with Nature have always been an integral part of the company's design concepts.

'Nature conservation and outdoor sport and leisure activities are frequently at odds with each other,' says Ewout Van Voorst, Managing Director of Skywalker. 'In particular, because the majority of adventure parks is not only run as a commercial business but are also subject to the EU's stringent operational safety regulations. Which frequently means that trees forming the major supporting structures of a climbing course are getting a rather rough treatment.'

The crucial issue here is the way the climbing courses are attached to the supporting trees. 'The conventional multi-layer steel cable winding configuration interferes with the ability of the trees to keep growing. In other words, it throttles them,' Van Voorst says. 'We have always been keen on coming up with a solution that maintains the highest safety standards but doesn't involve cutting or damaging the trees.'

The technology, originally developed by Active Forest Concepts but significantly upgraded by Skywalker, now puts paid to all this: the innovative anchoring device is based on a system of specially designed brackets which can be individually adjusted to fit the on-going growth pattern of the tree. After being tested extensively, the system has been certified by TÜV.

'Apart from its eco-compatibility, our system can be installed much quicker and requires only 50 precent of the maintenance,' Van Voorst explains. 'We've used the technology in three of our recent large scale projects. Furthermore, we also supply our anchor system to climbing park manufacturers based in other European countries.'

Frits Gielissen, one of leading tree expert in the Netherlands and director of the OBTA Forestry Consultancy in De Linde, comments: 'The fact that the Skywalker system is now being widely used in the industry is indeed very good news for the environment.'

'From an aesthetic point of view, we deliberately went for a very unobtrusive design, to make sure that the system blends perfectly into the surrounding tree habitat,' Van Voorst concludes. 'Which we think is a major contributing factor to providing customers with a genuinely 'natural' outdoor climbing experience.'

With an average price of 98, = euro* per connection point, the bracket-system also be seperately ordered at Skywalker. Contact us for more information. For professional resellers different conditions apply.

About Skywalker Adventure Builders:

Skywalker develops up-market concepts for outdoor activity sites and manufactures Active Forest ECO forest climbing parks, high ropes courses, adventure towers, outdoor playgrounds and adventure parks. Experience, innovative design, high quality, and the safety and durability of their products earmark Skywalker as one of the leading manufacturers of outdoor climbing facilities in Europe.

* Exclusive VAT and transport. Depending on confuguration and amount ordered in a single order.